I hate you, I love you by Elizabeth Hayley
Contemporary Romance
October 9, 2018
Loveswept

Quintessential enemies to lovers trope!  The banter, the petty-betty bickering, the one-upmanship, the suppressed attraction, the smoldering attraction and the love the blooms!

Poetry professor Naomi Price is loved by her students, happily works around the clock, and has credentials no one could deny. Except, it seems, for her arch-nemesis at Hainamor University. The man never has anything polite to say, and now the two of them are competing for a prestigious honor that just so happens to come with a cash award. With every move Naomi makes to impress her colleagues, her rival is right there beside her, elbow to elbow, making it impossible to ignore how devastatingly hot he is—even if he is a total bastard.

Sebastian Blake knows what Naomi thinks of him, and he’s trying hard not to care. Maybe he’s been grouchy with her in the past, but she isn’t making his life any easier with her crusade to win over the Personnel Committee and earn an honor that is rightfully his. Naomi just doesn’t quit, and though he’d never admit it, there’s something sexy about her. Something that has him tied up in knots. Something that makes him want to move beyond his painful past and take a chance—at least for as long as it takes to kiss her silly and see what happens next.

Yes!  Such a fun and comical rom-com. This was just the enemies-to- friends story that I wanted. After reading a few of them this year, I find myself hooked on this devilishly sexy trope. Sebastian and Naomi were similar for all their differences and watching them butt heads and then fall into each other’s arms was a treat. A fast read with main characters who were easy to fall in love with.  I found the resolution to be a little wanting, the story itself was such  a ride, I wish the ending would have had just a bang, but it was a sweet  HEA and so I’ve decided to be happy it happened and not sad about how it ended :-)  Also, kinda wishing it were a series novel so I  can revisit Naomi and Sebastian later down the line!

Grade: B+

The Wolf King’s Bride by C.A Worley
Fate of Imperium, Book 1
Paranormal/Fantasy Romance – Fated Mates
September 28, 2018
Self Published

Ehh. See. Ok. So the trouble with novels like this is that they are either brilliant or puzzling.  I’ve not found a middle ground folks. I’m either over the moon because the writer’s prose, world building, plot and characters are unforgettable and enchanting. Or- the writing is overwrought with unnecessary passages, the world is confusing or inconsistent, the storyline snags instead of twists and the characters just fall flat.  Unfortunately, The Wolf King’s Bride was a miss for me.  Even the promise of  a Wolfy Alpha Hero Hunk of Growly Yummyness couldn’t overcome the overall impression I have of The Wolf King’s Bride.

When Kellan, Wolf King of the North, meets his fated mate, she is only a child. He immediately brokers a betrothal and, on the day after her 20th birthday, whisks her away to his castle in the Northland. Kellan is elated, believing he has everything he has ever wanted. His new wife, Nora, doesn’t quite share the same sentiment.

Before Kellan has time to court her, Nora is attacked. An ancient brotherhood refuses to allow an heir of one kingdom onto the throne of another. All four factions in the land of Imperium appear to be involved in a surreptitious struggle for power … while Nora hides a few secrets of her own.

I really wanted to love this. But Not really my cup-o’. Tears.

Grade: C-

Just Pretend by Juliana Connors
Bradford Brothers and Friends, #2
Contemporary-Erotica
June 26, 2018
Sizzling Hot Reads

She’s never had an orgasm. When I learn this juicy fact, I’m determined to give her her first one. Or ten….

There’s just one problem: she’s my physical therapist, in charge of getting me back into the Navy SEALs after my helicopter was shot down and I nearly died.

I’m not supposed to bend her over the physical therapy barre while I pull her hair and take her from behind, my hard pecs and abs up against her back, my lips all over her neck.

So I have to hold her pretty mouth while she moans my name and screams into my hand as I make her come for her very first time.

If we’re caught, her job and my future as a SEAL will end. Unless I get down on one knee for her to make sure she can keep getting down on both of hers for me.

It’s all forbidden fun and games until someone has to propose…

I know. I know I know. Whaaa???  First, to get it out of the way, I give my erotica reads a lot of rope.  Frankly, I’m in it for the nookie and if it is written well and has a fun plot and compelling characters- Score! But, when it’s all over the place, completely lacking focus and everything about it etches a look of incredulity upon my visage for the duration of the read- dammit, I call a flag on the play.  I could barely finish it- the fun was just too fleeting.

Grade: D